Our Staff

Our Staff's Commitment to You.

Staff members of Carlson Funeral Service, Inc. are caring and experienced professionals who understand that each family is unique and has personal requests and traditions. These requests and traditions are of utmost importance to our staff of licensed funeral directors.

All members of the Carlson Funeral Service, Inc. professional team have completed the educational, testing, and apprenticeship requirements to obtain their Funeral Directors License as issued by the Funeral Director’s Examing Board of the State of Wisconsin. Every two years, all staff members must obtain at least fifteen hours of approved continuing education in order to maintain their licenses as well as to keep abreast of the latest advances in technology and funeral service options that we can offer our families. Each of our licensed directors belongs to the National Funeral Directors Association, Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association, and the Wisconsin Valley Funeral Directors Association. Carlson Funeral Service, Inc. is also a member by invitation of The Order of the Golden Rule. In order to achieve membership in these exclusive organizations, our firm must meet high standards in providing compassionate and professional service to our families as evaluated by other members of our profession. Our voluntary memberships in these organizations aides us in the goal of providing the most quality and professional services possible to the families and loved ones entrusted to our care and holds our firm accountable to higher standards than many other funeral service providers.

D. Bruce CarlsonPresident

Bruce is the fourth generation of the Carlson family to serve Rhinelander and the surrounding community as a funeral director at Carlson Funeral Service, Inc. Bruce graduated from Rhinelander High School in 1978, attended the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, and received his bachelor of science degree in Mortuary Science from the University of Minnesota. He joined the firm as a licensed funeral director in 1984. He and his wife, Renee, have two children, Michael and Katie.

Bruce has been very involved in both community and professional affairs since joining the firm. He is a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church where he is an usher and counting team member. He served on the church council including a term as congregation president. He is a member of the Rhinelander Lions Club and served as club president as well as chairman of numerous work projects throughout the community.

Bruce was a member of the Northwoods United Way Board of Directors for three terms and served as the group’s president as well as drive chairman and was also a member of the Rhinelander Rotary Club, being presented with the Paul Harris Fellowship award by the club. Wisconsin Governor, Tommy Thompson, appointed Bruce to two terms on the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Examing Board which oversees regulations and licensing for all funeral directors in the state and was elected four times as chairman of this board. Currently, he serves on the St. Mary’s Hospital Board of Directors, St. Mary’s Foundation, and on the boards of the hospice and palliative care programs at the hospital.

When not overseeing the operation of Carlson Funeral Home, Bruce enjoys the Green Bay Packers, golf, fishing, hunting, and assisting his children with their interest in competitive swimming.

John Mayo

John is originally from Antigo, Wisconsin, and graduated from Antigo High School in 1985. He attended the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and received an associates degree in funeral service from Milwaukee Area Technical College. He served his apprenticeship at a large funeral home in Milwaukee before joining the Carlson firm in 1990. John is married to Amy Carlson and joins Bruce as both an employee and brother-in-law. He has two sisters and two brothers with both brothers following him into funeral service as directors in Milwaukee and Madison.

Since coming to Rhinelander, John has been involved in a number of community organizations. He is a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and served on the church council as secretary. He was a member of the Rhinelander Lions club including terms as club president and as chairman of many club projects. He was a three term member of the Northwoods United Way Board of Directors where he served as president and a member of the allocations committee. He was also a past member of the Rhinelander Rotary Club and Rhinelander Jaycees where he served as president and treasurer. John was also a past board member of the Rhinelander Downtown Development Association.

In his free time, John and his wife enjoy all the activities the Northwoods has to offer including hunting and fishing as well as travel and time spent with their nieces and nephews.

D. Bruce Carlson

President

Bruce is the fourth generation of the Carlson family to serve Rhinelander and the surrounding community as a funeral director at Carlson Funeral Service, Inc. Bruce graduated from Rhinelander High School in 1978, attended the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, and received his bachelor of science degree in Mortuary Science from the University of Minnesota. He joined the firm as a licensed funeral director in 1984. He and his wife, Renee, have two children, Michael and Katie.

Bruce has been very involved in both community and professional affairs since joining the firm. He is a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church where he is an usher and counting team member. He served on the church council including a term as congregation president. He is a member of the Rhinelander Lions Club and served as club president as well as chairman of numerous work projects throughout the community.

Bruce was a member of the Northwoods United Way Board of Directors for three terms and served as the group’s president as well as drive chairman and was also a member of the Rhinelander Rotary Club, being presented with the Paul Harris Fellowship award by the club. Wisconsin Governor, Tommy Thompson, appointed Bruce to two terms on the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Examing Board which oversees regulations and licensing for all funeral directors in the state and was elected four times as chairman of this board. Currently, he serves on the St. Mary’s Hospital Board of Directors, St. Mary’s Foundation, and on the boards of the hospice and palliative care programs at the hospital.

When not overseeing the operation of Carlson Funeral Home, Bruce enjoys the Green Bay Packers, golf, fishing, hunting, and assisting his children with their interest in competitive swimming.

John Mayo

John is originally from Antigo, Wisconsin, and graduated from Antigo High School in 1985. He attended the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and received an associates degree in funeral service from Milwaukee Area Technical College. He served his apprenticeship at a large funeral home in Milwaukee before joining the Carlson firm in 1990. John is married to Amy Carlson and joins Bruce as both an employee and brother-in-law. He has two sisters and two brothers with both brothers following him into funeral service as directors in Milwaukee and Madison.

Since coming to Rhinelander, John has been involved in a number of community organizations. He is a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and served on the church council as secretary. He was a member of the Rhinelander Lions club including terms as club president and as chairman of many club projects. He was a three term member of the Northwoods United Way Board of Directors where he served as president and a member of the allocations committee. He was also a past member of the Rhinelander Rotary Club and Rhinelander Jaycees where he served as president and treasurer. John was also a past board member of the Rhinelander Downtown Development Association.

In his free time, John and his wife enjoy all the activities the Northwoods has to offer including hunting and fishing as well as travel and time spent with their nieces and nephews.